Circuit-closer.



H. JA HEENEY.

CIRCUIT CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 17. 1910.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

Fgf1 ier-1- HENRY J. HEENEY, OF-ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T HOITZER-CABOT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF

BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Applicationle.November 17, 1910. Serial No. 592365.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. HEEXEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Roxbury, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts. have invented a new and useful Improvement 1n Clrcuit-Closers,

of which the following is a specification.

The object of the' present invention is to produce a push-button circuit closer which is especially adapted for use in hospital signaling systems.

Several embodiments of my invention are shown in the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, but it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular forms of apparatus shown therein.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a push-button circuit-closer made in accordance with the present'invention. Fig. 2 is a central section through the casing of said circuit-closer showing certain parts in elevation. Fig. 3 is a central section through the circuit-closer and casing with the push-button in circuit-breaking position. Fig. 1 is a similar section showing the push-button in circuit-closing position. Fig. 5 is a section showing one method of unlocking the circuit-closer. Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6,6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a side View of one form of unlocking key that may be employed. Fig. 8 is an end view of said key. Fig. 9 is a central section of a modification.

In the particular drawings selected for more fully disclosing my invention, 1 representsa casing of suitable insulating material, shown in the present instance as closed at the bottom by the plug 2 secured thereto by the screws 3 and formed integral with the stem 4, to which the spring-finger circuit-closing elements are attached. In the arrangement shown in Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive. three such spring fingers 5 5 5 are showmoalthough it will be understood of course that I do not limit myself to any particular number thereof. Each spring finger is provided with a suitable catch 6, shownin the present instance as formed by bending the end thereof .backward on the spring finger, and the ends of said fingers are bent as shown so as to incline slightly outwardly. A conductor 7 is connected to ear-h of the circuit-closing members and may be inclosed by the usual covering to form a conducting cord. lThe pin 9, which is threaded into the push-button 8 or otherwise secured thereto, carries the contact-maker 12, which coperates with the spring fingers, and this contact-maker, as shown in the present instance. is a downwardly flaring truncated cone. A spring 10 surrounding the lower portion of the pin 9 which is located in the bore 11 normally maintains the contact-maker 12 out of contact with the spring fingers. In'the metallic bushing 13 and closely fitting the push-button 8 is the insulating collar 14, which is provided 'at its lower end with the flange 15 which is' slightly larger in diameter than the bushing 13 and extends slightly beyond the edge of the circuit-closer 12. lVhen the pushbutton is depressed, the catches on the ends of the spring fingers snap over the edge of the contact-maker as shown in Fig. 1, thereby electrically connecting the conductors 7 andfsecurely holding said contact-maker in its circuit-closing position against the force exerted on it by the spring 10.

To unlock the circuit-closer suitable means may be employed to force the collar 11 downward so that the fiange l5 thereof will Spread the spring fingers as shown in Fig. 5, thereby releasing the contact-maker 12 from their grasp and allowing the spring 10 to move the same to its normal position. A suitable form of key or unlocking implement, consists, as shown in Figs. 7 and S, of the flattened piece 17 provided with the cupped end 16 which may be placed over the push-button to move the collar 14 downwardly'as shown in Fig. In the modification shown in Fig. 9. oneof the spring fingers is replaced by a shorter finger 23, terminating below the ends of the fingers so that when the fingers 5 and 5 snap over the edge of the contact-maker 12, the latter is not quite'in contact with said finger 23. a further movement of the push-button 8 being required to bring said contactmaker into contact with said finger Accordingly in this modification a little extra play between the contact maker 12 and the stem 4 will be allowed, preferably b v slightly shortening said stem. Then the push-button is depressed to its lowermost limit, so as to bring the contact-maker 12 into contact with the finger 23, the elas- Patented Feb. 1, 1916. l

ticity of the iingers will maintain the same against the perimeter of said contactmaker$ so that the Contact between 5 5 and l2 need not be broken by making the contact between 23 and l2. The circuit-closer shown in Fig. 9, lil-:e those shown in Figs.

l to (l. inclusive, is self-locking.

[is will be apparenty the several circuitcloser-s labove described although especially adapted for hospital signaling systems are capable ol general application and various modilications may be made in the particular devices illustrated Without departing from the principle of my invention.

l claim:

l, si push-button circuit-closer comprising in combination a contact-maker7 a plurality oi spring-lingers each provided with means for holdingI said contact-maker in cir iuit-closing position, means normally holdingr said contact-maker out of contact with said spring-lingers and means movable with respect to said contact-maiter for releasing the latter from said spring-lingers.

2. Ai push-button circuit-closer comprisingr in combination a contact-nialter.7 a plurality ot spring-lingers each provided with means `tor bholding said contact-maker in circuit-closingposition7 means normally holding said contact-maker out of Contact with said spring-timgers7 a push-button attached to said contact-maker, and a collar surroundingx said push-button and movable relatively thereto for spreading said springlingers apart and releasing the said contactmalter therefrom.

3. push-button circuit-closer comprising in combination a contact-maker, a plu-- rality of spring-'lingers each provided Wit-li means for holding said contact-maker in circuit-closing position, means normally holding said contact-maker out of Contact with said spring-lingers a circuit-closing element terminating below the ends of said spring-lingers and means movable with respect to said contact-maker for releasing the latter from said spring-lingers.

4.a@ push-button circuit-closer comprising; in combination aitnbular casing, a longitudinally-bored stem secured Within said casing, spring` fingers carried thereby7 a pin having its lower portion arranged Within the bore of said stem, a contact-maker carried by said pin, a spira-l spring surroundingthe lower portion of said pin and interposed betvif'een said contact-malrer and sterns and a push-button secured to the ripper portion otl said pin and extending beyond said casing.

5. A push-button circuit-closer comprising in combination a contact-.malien a plurality ot spring-lingers each provided with a catch for holding said contact-maker in circuit-elosinn` position, means normally holding said contact-maker out of Contact tact-maker airone@ with said spring-lingers and means movable with respect to said'contact-malter for releasing the latter from said spring-lingers.

G. A circuit-closer comprising in combination a contact-maker, a plurality of springingers each provided with means for holding,l said contact-maker in circuit-closing position7 means normally holding said contactmaker out of Contact with said spring-lingers, means for actuating said contactmaker and means movable with respect to said contact-maker for releasing the latter from said spring-ingers.

7. A push-button circuit-closer comprising in combination a contact-maker, a spring-linger provided with means for holding said contact-maker in circuit-closing position, means normally holding said contactmaker out of contact with said spring-linger and means movable with respect to said contact-maker for releasing the latter from said spring-linger.

S. A push-button circuit-closer comprising in combination a contact-maker means normally holding said contact-maker in circuit-opening position, a plurality ot currentcarrying spring-ngers for holding said conin circuit-closing position. a push-button attached to said contact-maker and a collar surrounding said push-button and movable with respect thereto for sprea ding said spring-lingers and releasing said contact-maker therefrom.

9. A push-button circuit-closer comprising in combination a casing7 a stem secured Within said casing, Spring-ingers carried by said stein, a pin movable with respect to said stem a contact-maker carried by said pin, resilient means for normally maintaining said contact-maker in circuit-opening positions means for holding said contactmaker in cirouit-closingv position a pushbutton secured. to the upper portion of said pin, and key-controlled means for releasing said contact-maker from circuit-closing position l0. A push-button circuit-closer comprising; in combination a tubular casinpga longitudinally-bored stem secured Within said Iasing, spring lingers carried thereby7 a pin having its lower portion arranged Within the bore of said stems a contact-maker carried by said pin7 spring means for normally maintaining said contact-maker out of oontact with said spring lingers, and a pushbutton secured to the upper portion oi' said pin and extending beyond said casing( 11. A push-button circuit-closer comprisingin combination a tubular casing.7 a. longitudinally-bored stem secured within said casing, spring lingers carried thereby$ a. pin having its lower portion arranged Within the bore ot said stem. a contact-member carried b v said pin, a push-button secured to the appar portion of said pin and extending beyond said casing said spring fingers being provided with means for grasping said con'- tact-malier when the `latter. is in circuitclosing position and means whereby said contact-maker may be released from said spring fingers= 12. A push-button circuit-closer comprising in combination a contact-maker normally maintained in circuit-opening position, a plurality of current-carrying springfingers each provided with means for holding said contact-maker in circuit-closing position, and means movable with respect to said contact-maker for releasing the latter from said spring-fingers. 4

13. A. push-button circuit-closer comprising in combination a casings a stem secured within said casing, spring-fingerscarried by said steme a pin movable With respect to said stem, 'a contact-maker carried by' said pin and normally out of Contact with said spring-fingers, means for holding said contact-maker in circuit-closing position, a

ycarrying spring-fingers for holding push-button secured to the upper portion of said pin, and key-controlled means for releasing said contact-maker from circuit-closing position 14. A push-button ycircuit-closer comprising in combination a' contact-maker, means normally holding said contact-maker in circuit-opening position, a plurality of currentsaid contact-.maker inlcirenit-closing position, a push-button attached to said contact-maker and means movable with respect to said push-button for spreading said spring-iingers apart and releasing said contact-maker therefrom.

n testimony whereof? I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th day of November i910.

HENRY J., HEENEY.

`Witnesses: e

Gaia K. WoonwoaTH, E. B. ToML'INsoN 

